Killing my batteries

[Treefrog166]

Hi can I pick your combined experteeeze in surf's-

got me a KZN185 3ltr auto had it for some years now!

two years ago replaced batteries then recently started having ELECTRICAL problems, got my batteries checked and they were shot to hell replaced them both in august, then today went out to her after three days away and she wont start! have looked at the batteries one is charging now but the other is shot to hell! any hints in respect of causes or am i having a bad run on batteries?

[Apache]

As they are normally simply connected in parallel, check the battery connections. After a while they get tired and wont clamp tightly enough, and you get crud growing between the terminal and the connector. Also check each earth point from the battery to the body.

No-one has messed around fitting split charge kit have they?

[b19aus]

As they are normally simply connected in parallel, check the battery connections. After a while they get tired and wont clamp tightly enough, and you get crud growing between the terminal and the connector. Also check each earth point from the battery to the body.

No-one has messed around fitting split charge kit have they?

Must be that time of year.....just taken both of mine off this morning after experiencing similar problems and presently charging, have cleaned crud of terminals etc so hopefully back to normal later on today/tomorrow

[cfrizzy]

I am not far away from you (neyland) and a mate of mine is toyota trained and only at narberth what he doesent know about these hiluxes isnt worth knowing if you want i can put you onto him he is a sound bloke.

[Hazzo]

I replaced both batteries the first winter I had this truck, the following winter after three days of non use they were flat as a fart, this year first cold snap no start again but knowing it is not the batteries but these trucks seem to drain them quick I bought one of those power cell/blow tyres up/has lights on things and use that when normal startup fails, a lot cheaper than buying new batteries all the time only to find the surf is a battery hog. H

[Treefrog166]

Thanks for the reply's so far,

Batteries checked out both passed!! Seems like everyone is saying, they seem to drain down in cold spell for some reason! My mechanic cant find a drain down, hasnt heard of the starting motor draining down either! The alternator is chucking out enough juice - so back to
Looks like a battery boost thingy for crimbo then!

[BUSHWHACKER]

Batteries don't like cold temperatures either, so if they'er playing up now they will only get worse in the next few months.
Try insulating them with polystyrene, underneath and around the front and the side thats against the inner wings. Not on top or the engine side, obviously.
It worked for my Transit battery a few years back.

[MattF]

Any battery test is only an indicator, not an exact condition test. Batteries will be less efficient when cold, but not that inefficient. They either aren't receiving a good charge or they're shagged.